More than 400 runs made for an entertaining start to the Twenty20 series - and a tough night for the bowlers - but Australia were more comfortable winners than the 13-run margin suggested in Hobart.

By the time Ravi Bopara went on a late six-hitting surge, England (who would dearly have loved one of those blows the other night in Adelaide) were out of contention although Australia will have been grateful that they had as many as 4 for 213 to work with.

Their total, on a pristine pitch and with one boundary of barely 50 yards towards the building site, was set up by an opening stand of 106 in less than 10 overs between Aaron Finch and Cameron White. Who needs David Warner?

For a while it looked like Finch would replicate his record-breaking hundred at the Ageas Bowl last year, when he slammed 156, so there will have been a degree of relief from England when he was cut-off for the small matter of 52 off 31 balls but considerable damage had already been done.

White top-scored on his return to the international scene with 75 off 43 balls to strengthen claims for a place in the World Twenty20 squad. He was given a life on 11, when Joe Root was late to react to a low edge at slip off Broad and went on to produce a crisp innings, including four sixes, with his driving over extra cover a particular highlight. Again, a simple fielding error hurt England badly.

England began positively through Alex Hales, who timed the ball beautifully square of the wicket and has good cause to be eyeing a top-bracket IPL deal, but when faced with a target over 200 every lean over sees the asking rate shoot up and the requirement to exploit the Powerplay comes with risks.

Moises Henriques, who is on a plane to South Africa tomorrow, put Australia on course for victory by removing Luke Wright and Hales in his first over. When Eoin Morgan gave himself too much room against Glenn Maxwell it was quickly becoming a lost cause.

It did not take long for Australia to get going after winning the toss. The first six of the innings went to White, when he swung Jade Dernbach over midwicket, but Finch's soon followed and it was timing, as well as brute force, which allowed the ball to sail over long-on. After the six-over Powerplay, Australia were 0 for 52, which did not represent a disaster for England, but the major issue for them was the lack of wickets, which just gave already free-flowing batsmen even more freedom.

Finch's fifty came from 26 balls, the same number as it took him on that heady night in Southampton. Bopara's first over cost 12 and Danny Briggs' 14 as Broad's plan to take pace off the ball had little effect. But it was not just bludgeoning, especially the way White played Briggs with deft deflections and strong sweeping.

The hundred stand came up inside 10 overs - Australia's sixth three-figure opening stand in T20s - and it ended as their third highest when Finch picked out deep midwicket. White had plenty of time to reach his own hundred, but fell in a curious two-ball period against Wright which firstly involved being caught off a waist-high no-ball - checked lengthily by the third umpire - before he was pinned lbw next delivery.

Maxwell appeared more interested in reverse rather than conventional hitting. He nailed one switch hit over deep point for six but fell trying a similar effort off Bopara in an over that cost just three to follow one from Broad that went for four.

It was, perhaps, no surprise that Briggs and Dernbach were among the most expensive bowlers - neither have played any cricket of late. At the toss, Broad said he wanted to show faith in the players who had performed well last year, but the absence of Ben Stokes, especially, was a surprise. Dernbach's first two overs had cost 25 and his last two cost the same (including another full-toss no-ball) as Australia found a late kick just as England threatened to pull them back.

Chris Lynn, who was handed his debut alongside 20-year-old legspinner James Muirhead, launched his fourth ball into the stands and added two more to ensure there was no let-up as the total crossed 200. It was the type of striking that has made his name in the Big Bash League over the last couple of years and another example of the confidence surging through Australia's young players at the moment.

Muirhead, meanwhile, was given a gentler introduction than may have been expected when he was brought onto bowl with England's top order but he had to contend with a boundary that was barely a drop-kick away. He still gave the ball a decent rip as he had done during his tour match appearances and had the joy of a first wicket when Tim Bresnan missed a slog.

Bopara dented a few figures with some meaty blows - his seven sixes meaning both sides hit 11 in their innings - and kept a full house entertained with only the fifth half-century to come from No. 7 in a Twenty20 international but it came too late for England.

Nice Try, But Aus is too Good for you guys, and that maybe Too certain now. Australia can win this series With extreme ease Anyways.

POSTED BY
ScottStevo
on | January 30, 2014, 13:54 GMT

@TheBigBoodha, Hazlewood is not one of the best bowlers going around - you are kidding, right?! I understand all bowlers cop a bit of stick in T20, but his last over was a disgrace, so too his second last over (wasn't much better).If he's so good, he'd not have kept landing half volleys and watching them disappear over the ropes.

Why are you bringing Pattinson into it?

We won, so I suppose I shouldn't worry so much - and it's only the T20 lottery, so I don't care that much...

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 30, 2014, 9:54 GMT

@R_U_4_REAL_NICK on (January 29, 2014, 20:22 GMT) Surprised you bother responding to J2 these days. He is to intellectual debate what Katie Hopkins is to tact/understanding and balanced views

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 30, 2014, 9:42 GMT

@Jas.Sohd on (January 30, 2014, 6:18 GMT) I think Kies days are gone as an Eng player. Buttler is in that position now and I dont see him being dislodged and Craig obviously doesnt bowl so it would mean him playing purely as a batsman and as an opener and I reckon Lumb and Hales are far ahead of him as openers. Also if Kies isn't hitting big then the scoring rate is stagnating as he can be very pedestrian when it comes to strike rotation

POSTED BY
Harmony111
on | January 30, 2014, 9:15 GMT

@ScottStevo: At least he showed he had the ability. What he lacks is the right application & focus. He won't have felt like a WC after this match but some of the doubts in his own mind would have been cleared up. All he now needs to do is to see what he did right today. Perhaps he thinks a bit too far ahead at other times while this time he was thinking for each ball.

@JG2704: If his shots were not slogs then he clearly has the ability. Eng mgt must make a plan to help players like Finn, Brothwick, Bairstow etc. Bopara could be in that list too. I would also add Dernbach to this. He is a bit like Bopara, has talent but lacks clarity.

@one-eyed-but-keepinitreal: If we talk about luck then Ashwin won't have gotten out at the ropes. It would have been +6 instead of -W. Reg DRS, after hundreds of thousands of controversies due to DRS, you better not talk about it. Last I heard, an ORS was put alongside DRS. ORS is basically slo-mo HD replay --- just what we've been asking for centuries.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 30, 2014, 8:33 GMT

bobbo2, I wold dispute that. The team batting second on a road clearly has the advantage. England could have won this match comfortably if they'd gotten to ten overs with only one or two wickets down. Bopara showed just how easy it was to smash balls out of the ground when free to take risks. Of course in his case the risk-taking freedom came not from having a surplus of wickets in hand, but from the fact that the game was over and he had nothing to lose.

POSTED BY
Jas.Sohd
on | January 30, 2014, 6:18 GMT

Bresnan - overrated, Dernbach - (can't find any more disappointing words), Root - slightly overrated not good for T20, Lumb - need to be more fearless, Morgan - should be the leader. These are the main problems, all we need to do is take first three out, work with other two and give Kieswetter a shot again bring KP back and get your best most aggressive(about cricket) bowlers from FL T20 and then we have a T20 team that can be considered a contender for a championship

POSTED BY
anver777
on | January 30, 2014, 4:51 GMT

Good fighting knock by Bopara in the end, but i believe he started bit late to attack.. any way an entertaining game of cricket from both side !!!!!

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 30, 2014, 3:10 GMT

As a Sri Lankan, I adore England a lot. On paper they are no doubt the best and I find it hard to fathom how they failed like this in Australia. After 2006-7 Ashes whitewash, they made mends by winning the CB series finals. Winning the T20 series is the only hope now.

With top class bowlers like Broad, Anderson, Bresnan, Stokes, Dernbach featuring in this tour, surprised by thr the lack of Impact they had on Aussie batting. Fact is Aussie batting has tremendously improved after the failures last year. No way would our average bowling attack get Aussies all out for 74 today unlike last year.

Anyone who thinks Test cricket is under threat from T20, you need to give yourself an uppercut right now. Looking at the big picture one can't help thinking T20 is what the founding fathers of baseball deliberately overlooked on their way to pull shots lofted over the chucker's head with a caveman's club.

POSTED BY
Zainnajam
on | January 30, 2014, 15:02 GMT

Nice Try, But Aus is too Good for you guys, and that maybe Too certain now. Australia can win this series With extreme ease Anyways.

POSTED BY
ScottStevo
on | January 30, 2014, 13:54 GMT

@TheBigBoodha, Hazlewood is not one of the best bowlers going around - you are kidding, right?! I understand all bowlers cop a bit of stick in T20, but his last over was a disgrace, so too his second last over (wasn't much better).If he's so good, he'd not have kept landing half volleys and watching them disappear over the ropes.

Why are you bringing Pattinson into it?

We won, so I suppose I shouldn't worry so much - and it's only the T20 lottery, so I don't care that much...

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 30, 2014, 9:54 GMT

@R_U_4_REAL_NICK on (January 29, 2014, 20:22 GMT) Surprised you bother responding to J2 these days. He is to intellectual debate what Katie Hopkins is to tact/understanding and balanced views

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 30, 2014, 9:42 GMT

@Jas.Sohd on (January 30, 2014, 6:18 GMT) I think Kies days are gone as an Eng player. Buttler is in that position now and I dont see him being dislodged and Craig obviously doesnt bowl so it would mean him playing purely as a batsman and as an opener and I reckon Lumb and Hales are far ahead of him as openers. Also if Kies isn't hitting big then the scoring rate is stagnating as he can be very pedestrian when it comes to strike rotation

POSTED BY
Harmony111
on | January 30, 2014, 9:15 GMT

@ScottStevo: At least he showed he had the ability. What he lacks is the right application & focus. He won't have felt like a WC after this match but some of the doubts in his own mind would have been cleared up. All he now needs to do is to see what he did right today. Perhaps he thinks a bit too far ahead at other times while this time he was thinking for each ball.

@JG2704: If his shots were not slogs then he clearly has the ability. Eng mgt must make a plan to help players like Finn, Brothwick, Bairstow etc. Bopara could be in that list too. I would also add Dernbach to this. He is a bit like Bopara, has talent but lacks clarity.

@one-eyed-but-keepinitreal: If we talk about luck then Ashwin won't have gotten out at the ropes. It would have been +6 instead of -W. Reg DRS, after hundreds of thousands of controversies due to DRS, you better not talk about it. Last I heard, an ORS was put alongside DRS. ORS is basically slo-mo HD replay --- just what we've been asking for centuries.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 30, 2014, 8:33 GMT

bobbo2, I wold dispute that. The team batting second on a road clearly has the advantage. England could have won this match comfortably if they'd gotten to ten overs with only one or two wickets down. Bopara showed just how easy it was to smash balls out of the ground when free to take risks. Of course in his case the risk-taking freedom came not from having a surplus of wickets in hand, but from the fact that the game was over and he had nothing to lose.

POSTED BY
Jas.Sohd
on | January 30, 2014, 6:18 GMT

Bresnan - overrated, Dernbach - (can't find any more disappointing words), Root - slightly overrated not good for T20, Lumb - need to be more fearless, Morgan - should be the leader. These are the main problems, all we need to do is take first three out, work with other two and give Kieswetter a shot again bring KP back and get your best most aggressive(about cricket) bowlers from FL T20 and then we have a T20 team that can be considered a contender for a championship

POSTED BY
anver777
on | January 30, 2014, 4:51 GMT

Good fighting knock by Bopara in the end, but i believe he started bit late to attack.. any way an entertaining game of cricket from both side !!!!!

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 30, 2014, 3:10 GMT

As a Sri Lankan, I adore England a lot. On paper they are no doubt the best and I find it hard to fathom how they failed like this in Australia. After 2006-7 Ashes whitewash, they made mends by winning the CB series finals. Winning the T20 series is the only hope now.

With top class bowlers like Broad, Anderson, Bresnan, Stokes, Dernbach featuring in this tour, surprised by thr the lack of Impact they had on Aussie batting. Fact is Aussie batting has tremendously improved after the failures last year. No way would our average bowling attack get Aussies all out for 74 today unlike last year.

Anyone who thinks Test cricket is under threat from T20, you need to give yourself an uppercut right now. Looking at the big picture one can't help thinking T20 is what the founding fathers of baseball deliberately overlooked on their way to pull shots lofted over the chucker's head with a caveman's club.

POSTED BY
one-eyed-but-keepinitreal
on | January 30, 2014, 2:55 GMT

Actually, harmony111, the final scoreline belies the thrashing that England received in the match. Don't let the final 13 point difference deceive you, the match was out of England's hand before the end of the powerplay. Since you decided to bring India and luck into the equation, with a DRS, India should be 4-0 down in their series against NZ considering the fact that Jadeja absolutely smashed the covers off a ball and was caught behind prior to him saving the third ODI. Given Australia's position with 15 overs to go in the third ODI, Australia shouldn't have needed Faulkner's heroics. In the Perth match, I don't think Warner and Haddin would have been rested if the series were alive and 350 should could should have been chaseable. Could could could at least no one can blame umpiring for the results.

POSTED BY
wellrounded87
on | January 30, 2014, 2:37 GMT

@Ian Jones I don't mind anyone using foreign born players, provided they are legitimate representing the country they play for. KP is South African, he's even publicly said he'd rather play for SA than England but the fact is he was disadvantaged in SA because of the quota system so he took option B same goes for Trott. Guys like Balance, Rankin, Morgan are worse because their countries don't have serious test sides, and despite having no allegiance to England they play for them because the financial potential is infinitely higher.

I'm fine with guys like Stokes, Henriques, Strauss, etc to play for their respective countries becuase regardless of their birth place they live and breath the country they represent. Birthplace is irrelevant, but calling another country home wanting to play for that team but chasing the financial gains instead of representative honours. This is dishonest and against the nature of true competition.

POSTED BY
Adoh
on | January 30, 2014, 2:03 GMT

One thing confused me about last nights game. Cameron White was caught off a no ball that was clearly called by the umpire while the ball was in the air - you could see the umpires arm outstretched on the TV coverage. Then, for some reason unknown to man, the decision that was already made by the on-field umpire was sent upstairs for a review. Can someone please explain this to me?

POSTED BY
zCooler
on | January 30, 2014, 0:19 GMT

Aus T20 batting department is running out of room. While we have White & Finch, then Warner & Watson coming back in. And then Maxwell, Bailey, Lynn. Imagine they all perform well on the same match ... what the score would be?

POSTED BY
porridgemcgee
on | January 29, 2014, 23:59 GMT

Gee Australia have a bit of work to do in this format. That opening partnership between White and Finch should have made this a comfy win, instead it ended up a little scary and miles closer than it should have been basically due to the selection they went for. They effectively played 2 bowlers ( Hazelwood and Coulter-Nile ) along with 1 new bowler that turned out ok ( Muirhead ), leaving them with 8 overs to make up with batting allrounders ( Maxwell and Henriques ) Personally, unless Australia think they can chase 200 every game, I would love to see one of Henriques and Maxwell replaced by another actual genuine bowler ( Gannon, Bird, Hastings etc ) to help lower totals for them to chase. If it were up to me, Henriques would be the player I would drop as his bowling isnt worth much and Maxwell is the stronger batter.

POSTED BY
bobbo2
on | January 29, 2014, 23:10 GMT

So the team batting first on a road won? Big surprise. How often does a chasing team win T20 games? Unless the first team falls in a heap I've noticied that very often the batting team win.

POSTED BY
jahinoz
on | January 29, 2014, 23:04 GMT

Bopara spree in vain, more futile runs for bopara, I dont know how you can title articles or links to this article like that when it should say "english top order fails again". When bopara came to the wicket he had an impossible job and he turned a thrashing into a narrow victory. It was not in vain, it sends a clear message to the aussies, "if you want to win this series you're going to have to break records every game". For the record im aussie and bopara put the aussies on notice for game 2.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 29, 2014, 22:48 GMT

ScottStevo, do you understand t20 cricket at all? All bowlers get smashed regularly, and with just four overs some days there's little chance to get it right. Hazelwood is one of the best bowlers going around, and one bad over doesn't change that. Unlike, say Pattinson, he is good or very good most of the time. Pattinson is simply poor most of the time in short formats.

POSTED BY
Kelum_w
on | January 29, 2014, 22:07 GMT

England have been getting their team selection wrong all summer, I can't understand how Joe Root who struggled for form in the ODI's got picked for this T20. Note this is not an effort to bash Root and further bring down his confidence. I think he's a wonderfully talented player with a bright future. But lets face it, he has been struggling with form lately and to put him in a T20 where 10.65 runs were required at the start was not ideal. Things might have been a bit different if Eng batted first but still it's a bit of a gamble really. England were better off bringing in Stokes instead of Root, that would have given them the extra bowling option. Get Stokes in for Root and either play him or Bopara at no 4. That gives the team a better balance and Broady a few more options.
Though ideally get Stokes in for Dernbach and KP(who would have nicely attacked the short boundary with his flamingo flick) in for Root. Unfortunately thats never going to happen.

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 29, 2014, 22:03 GMT

@Harmony111 on (January 29, 2014, 20:04 GMT) Re Bopara - he couldn't wake up after the last ODI - and his twin brother turned up instead and was hitting the ball beautifully.Unfortunately I think we'll see the real Ravi turn up next game and this performance will probably lead to a load of laboured performances at number 5 or 6 in the batting line up.
To be honest the game was not as close as the 14 run margin sufggests.We had a period in the Aus inns when it looked like we may be able to peg them back to less than 200 but they pulled away again. I think we needed 70+ runs off the last 4 overs so getting that close was as good as we could have got

POSTED BY
voyrison
on | January 29, 2014, 21:59 GMT

selection seems all at sea

POSTED BY
bren19
on | January 29, 2014, 21:56 GMT

Wow - so many people putting the game under the microscope. Guys you are looking at what is not there. Let me sum the depth of the match up for you. Australia won because we slogged more balls into and over the boundary than England did.

POSTED BY
disco_bob
on | January 29, 2014, 21:54 GMT

Root was the villain here. His early drop, pretty well dropped the match, it allowed Australia to play without concern. What made it particularly bad was that he was completely switched off, he was caught with his pants around his ankles and then when he realised the ball was coming towards him, he moved the wrong way out of panic.

POSTED BY
Rooboy
on | January 29, 2014, 21:53 GMT

@anton1234 - totally agree. I had the game on tv last night and kept one eye on it as I went about doing other things, but as you say, T20 for me works best at franchise level. The international games really don't hold much meaning for me. Not to say that what I saw of last night wasn't highly entertaining though!

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 29, 2014, 21:26 GMT

Good innings by Bopara but to be fair it was after the game was all over. I suspect if Australia needed to they could have defended 170/180 so it was a pretty comprehensive victory.

POSTED BY
R_U_4_REAL_NICK
on | January 29, 2014, 21:14 GMT

@jb633 (post on January 29, 2014, 11:07 GMT): as JG2704 says, it's a tough one. The problem with not allowing the fringe players sufficient opportunities is that teams can become stagnated and rigid, hence the endless arguments that certain teams like England are holding on too much to 'dead-wood'/'non-performing' players. Some of the fringe players you've mentioned there are more than capable; they've often just been thrust into action at tough times when they're most likely to struggle. Briggs could maybe perform better in tandem with another spinner like Tredwell, but that will never happen. Personally I feel Finn should have been held back until Lords in the Ashes in England, instead of thrown in at game 1. I rate Bresnan for tests, but not so much for shorter formats. Sometimes it's more about management than raw talent, but a very tough call and one I'd hate to make.

POSTED BY
Patchmaster
on | January 29, 2014, 21:11 GMT

Why on earth was Dernbach playing ? Bopara has done that annoying thing he does, by producing runs that don't matter, and somehow getting him selected for another string of matches he won't contribute to. Root looks spent, his lethargy in missing that catch was terrible, and personifies everything about ENG at the moment.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 29, 2014, 20:58 GMT

Strider; I will answer your question. No he was out of the Queensland side just last season didn't even get picked for the shield final. Had a very good season but in the same time Australia have played very well. If he was from NSW he still wouldn't be in the ream. There are still better performed local batsmaan than him in the 50 over cricket ie Khawaja, White and better performed 4 day batsman ie Hughes, North, White that are not going to South Africa.

POSTED BY
ScottStevo
on | January 29, 2014, 20:32 GMT

@Harmony11, if you'd watched the game today, you'd have realised that Eng after 10 overs into their innings weren't in the match. Ravi's slog fest was always going to be in vain from pretty much the moment he walked to the crease. Needing 75 off 24 he did very well to make it appear like this game was anywhere near close, but it's much easier to swing away when the game's gone. Not trying to discredit what was some sublime hitting - I especially enjoyed a low full toss that he astoundingly dispatched down the ground with a mere flick of the wrists that didn't even have a follow through - though I get the feeling that had the intensity of a result in the balance been present, we'd have seen the Ravi witnessed throughout the ODI series. Good knock, decent entertainment but only ever one team likely to win during this match.

POSTED BY
Harmony111
on | January 29, 2014, 20:04 GMT

Was that really Bopara? Firstly I had no idea there was a T20 today and then I miss 2-3 really good knocks?

The score card showed that Eng were nearly down and out in the 12th over needing over a 100 when Bopara decided he would show 'em. And showed he a lot. I am hoping most of his shots were well timed and well placed ones and not slogs. I think he proved a lot of us wrong by this knock but then Ishant Sharma too has a few 5 wickets hauls so one never knows.

This result proves that when a team gets into a rut it really gets into it. Eng just can't win in Oz. Eng might have won 2 more matches in the ODI series but they lost. Here too they came so close yet they have lost. This is not unlike India in NZ. With just a bit more effort & luck India might have been 3-1 up but now they are 0-3 down for failing in those crucial moments.

If anyone ever needs proof of how imp fast bowling is, look at this tour. Mitch turned a 1-3 into 5-0 . When will Ishant learn to bowl.

POSTED BY
anton1234
on | January 29, 2014, 19:41 GMT

Although I love the Big Bash League, I must say T20s at international level doesn't quite work. I think T20 is most enjoyable at franchise level.

POSTED BY
R_U_4_REAL_NICK
on | January 29, 2014, 19:39 GMT

Hehe, gotta love the comments here! The whole heroes and villains thing, and the player's most people (including myself it has to be said) thought shouldn't be playing ended up performing best! Funny old game this cricket, and the shorter the format generally the bigger the surprises.

I don't think many conclusions can be drawn from a mere 13-run victory, even it was only a T20. Australia got off to such a flyer, the fact England ended up getting as close as they did was actually quite commendable IMO. Australia were the better all-round performers and deserved to win, but at the end of the day all it would have taken was one of the other key batsmen to stay in with Bopara and things might have been different.

Be interesting to see if this result/performance brings about any unusual changes for the next game.

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 29, 2014, 18:45 GMT

@ salazar555 - Yeah but Ravi did play particularly well today. I have lambasted the guy as much as the next critic but credit where it's due.
Why not keep Ravi in the side but in the lower order - just before the bowlers - in the batting line up where he's not so much of a liability if he is in one of his dozy moods?

@JB - It's a difficult one. I think some of the players have shown glimpses of form for England. I would never write off anyone's England career but it would be nice to see performing players (young or old) get opportunities if they're doing it while others in the side arent.
My fear is that they'll move Ravi back up the batting order and he'll revert to type. Keep him down the order and have Buttler up the order at 5 or 6 in ODIs/T20S. If they want him to eventually play in tests he needs to be given greater responsiblity and batting at 7/8 will not do anything for his game and IMO it doesnyt help the team either

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 29, 2014, 18:26 GMT

@Cpt.Meanster on (January 29, 2014, 11:22 GMT) What a silly little hissy fit of a comment.

JB is one of our own biggest critics and he has in the past often praised Indian cricket and only recently said that many of our players should play IPL and other such global tourns to better their SF games.
I said to him (on that thread) that I think that there are few players who IPL franchises (from our recent OD side) would be interested in. Morgan - who I think is up for auction again and Buttler who sadly isnt as I'd love to see him play in IPL and this may be his one chance before he becomes part of the test squad.

I know that some on here are as anti IPL as you are pro IPL but JB is certainly not one of them.

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 29, 2014, 18:13 GMT

Well played Australia.214 was huge to chase and realistically we needed 1 or 2 of our top order to score well.I think the top order were under too much scoreboard pressure from the off.
Hales looked decent for a while , Lumb wasn't there for long enough, Wright looked scratchy , Buttler looked ok but then played another big shot straight to a fielder and Root started slow and then gained momentum - He still should be rested though IMO.
Now Ravi actually showed what he is capable of when he wakes up at the crease. I was going to dwell on why he was in the team still - citing the comedy element when he double teapotted (staring at the boundary rider) after a gentle length delivery was deservedly dispatched for 6. Maybe Ravi didn't realise that Inspector Gadget was just a cartoon character and not an England cricketer.
It's days like today that make it all the more frustrating when you see his last performance. Still superbly played Ravi - even if it's probaby a one off

POSTED BY
PPL11
on | January 29, 2014, 17:13 GMT

@ABKhanISB: Mr Do you have mind to understand why they are called BIG 3? Its not because they are winning each and every match they played, but they Are Big 3 Because of the followers they have - The money they brings to the game !! Use your brain before commenting

POSTED BY
seantells
on | January 29, 2014, 17:08 GMT

still Eng cant get things right , Bopara should come before Root he's a fearless batsman and give Carberry a chance instead Root

POSTED BY
thebeardedblunder
on | January 29, 2014, 16:45 GMT

Memo to England Selectors : you're disrespecting the flag of St. George with some of your lame selections! I'M NOT A HAPPY MAN! In top level sport the BEST team should always be taking the field! Let's see a spinner that turns it, proven in O.D.I.. ie Tredwell. Please forget all about Dernbach - he's got some fancy tattoos but that's about it! And while the man's really hitting his straps, pick Willey - or is he from an unfashionable County? I care DEEPLY about England but I truely despair about some of the selections!

POSTED BY
gsingh7
on | January 29, 2014, 16:08 GMT

different format same result. england team is the worst to reach australian shores in decades. just 1 odi win for whole tour. they look a shadow of team that won the only test series in india for past decade.

POSTED BY
ScottStevo
on | January 29, 2014, 16:08 GMT

@Chris Stonehouse, because he didn't really bowl all that well. The only batsman he troubled was Broad; and even that was after he'd already smacked him for a 6. His other 2 wickets were from poor balls that had the rate not been 12rpo could've ended up differently, or at someone who can actually hit and not Root. He did okay today, that's all. White's innings was much better than his performance with the ball. Even though Aus won today, we bowled terribly and I was p!ssed off watching Bopara smash everyone in the last few overs as they shouldn't have got anywhere near our total. Maybe it's easier hitting out when the game is all but over, but still, we just fed him length balls. Hazlewood's last over was disgraceful. He shouldn't play again after that. After 5 wides to start, he then bowled 6 half volleys. .Basically each of our bowlers bowled 1 good over and 3 poor! By an actual scary batting side, we'll get caned bowling like that...

POSTED BY
wolf777
on | January 29, 2014, 15:22 GMT

It has everything to do with the red color uniforms. Look at Zimbabwe. Same color and same results! Our team plays in local league out here in western suburb of Chicago. Some of the teammates suggested our uniform patterned after England. I reminded them what happened few years ago. we had all red uniform few years ago and we lost all the games badly! If England carry on with this uniform into the WC, you can write them off right now!!!

POSTED BY
sergio11
on | January 29, 2014, 15:21 GMT

good to see Cameron White back in the side and getting runs too..love to see him and Hughes in AUS team in all format...i think AUS looking really good to win the T20 world cup even...lot of fire power and quality seamers to back it...from india

POSTED BY
Big_Chikka
on | January 29, 2014, 14:55 GMT

really do wonder about some of these bopara comments................if i didn't know better i might think there driven by hate and not facts..............................if you compare his chances in all formats and his performances in all formats that might not be a bad starting point.........................then place them relative to all those in the team..............................in the same games.................

POSTED BY
ABKhanISB
on | January 29, 2014, 14:29 GMT

The so called one of big three is getting white washed in Australia and the other is getting white washed in New Zealand. Bravo!!!

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 14:27 GMT

England need to go to Ireland, South Africa and Zimbabwe to find some new talent.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 14:19 GMT

@Giles. With the shift from Ashes to Ashley, I expected some change in
outcome. Sorry, your Guiles didn't work. I wanted to Hale your (and your boys') efforts (and the result) at least in the T-20. You made the Wright choices. Was even willing to turn back to Dernbach. I waited with a Lumb in my throat. But, all Hoppes fell like a ton of Briggs. I can only Gnash my teeth along with Gnasher. Sorry. Really sorry.

Broadly speaking, the only backhanded consolation (if there is anything like that) is the fact that, Duncan and our Indian boys are going through the same plight in NZ. You two can meet in England later and exchange misery notes, for some consolation.

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | January 29, 2014, 13:48 GMT

Carberry is far more intimidating prospect than Lumb and has outperformed him the last 2 yrs in FPT20. Lumb is lucky to be in the side it seems Hales carries him and he gets in through the Notts connection. Wright to is not dangerous in the international game he just swings like a wild man. I'm not keen on Root in T20's either he doesn't score fast enough or have ability to clear the rope consistently, Bresnan is also not good enough with the bat to warrant a place you need bowlers that can wield a bat in this format like Graham Napier. I just can't see how guys like Napier and Carberry are not playing T20 for England ? Carberry, Napier, Stokes instead of Lumb Root and Bresnan everytime and when fit KP and Willey for Wright/Dernbach. Englands best T20 11 is 1.Hales 2.Carberry 3.KP 4.Morgan 5.Bopara 6.Butler 7.Stokes 8.Napier 9.Willey 10.Broad 11.Spinner of choice

POSTED BY
AB34
on | January 29, 2014, 13:47 GMT

@Ian Jones, don't think Pietersen, Trott or Balance lived in England when they were a child.....?

POSTED BY
Henry_Crun
on | January 29, 2014, 13:37 GMT

@cccrider - Sorry to disillusion you but I'm not in the least bit angry, just a little tired of Australian cricket being held back by petty parochial attitudes. Logically NSW, having by far the highest population and by extension the most cricketers, would be expected to have the most reps in theTest team. It doesn't. On a per capita basis, Tasmania have the second most and the ACT the most (Haddin and Lyon). Yes I agree that Lynn should have been a permanent fixture in Oz limited over teams for at least the last year, but look at the selection panel; of four selectors two are Inverarity and Rod Marsh. If you are going to come up with conspiracy theories, suggest that Lynn move to WA.
Re your question, without looking it up I would say Steve Waugh, and question the relevance.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 13:31 GMT

On a really good pitch Coulter-Nile took 4 wickets at a fairly economical rate... And he doesn't even get a mention? Why? To me he deserved man of the match.

POSTED BY
StarveTheLizard
on | January 29, 2014, 13:29 GMT

So - if Australia win this series do we move up a place to 7th - or do we like leapfrog a couple to number 6?

POSTED BY
robble
on | January 29, 2014, 13:11 GMT

Lumb never does it for England, we need to find another opener before the World T20. Kieswetter maybe?

Dernbach is like Bopara in many ways. He'll play 5 games and be terrible to the point of people saying he should be left out. Then in the last chance saloon he has a good day which gives him another 4 or 5 failures before his place comes under scrutiny once again.

Bopara was in last chance saloon today and pulled something out the bag, another poor game by Dernbach and no doubt he'll pull something out the bag just when he's about to be dropped

POSTED BY
crangs81
on | January 29, 2014, 12:49 GMT

Love it. Bopara getting stick again. I suppose he stands out amongst all those winners in the team... :D

POSTED BY
OneEyedAussie
on | January 29, 2014, 12:47 GMT

The Australian batsmen hit a lot of sixes to the shorter boundary and were more or less allowed to do so by the English bowlers. The Australian bowlers did a better job of protecting the shot boundaries, Bopara flourish aside. It was good to see White batting more freely tonight, rather than his usual 100mph-or-handbrake approach.

POSTED BY
Murali_the_chucker
on | January 29, 2014, 12:47 GMT

Loved watching the poms getting thrashed. I think its time again for the ECB to go shopping..South Africa & Ireland are great destinations for talent shopping.

POSTED BY
milepost
on | January 29, 2014, 12:46 GMT

@blade runner, 2-0 in a T20 series is a whitewash is it? Below average Aussie side that have lost one match this summer? You need to spend less time starting at the computer screen buddy.

POSTED BY
Back-Foot-Cringe
on | January 29, 2014, 12:44 GMT

Cam White, you beauty - such an inelegant Lurch at the crease a coupla years ago & tonite he's Top Bloke at the show. Or . . . maybe he was just lucky, yeah, that's it, just like all Oz efforts this summer, ever since that moment in the first innings of the first test at the Gabba when Oz were 132/6. After that, pure luck all the way.

And lucky again tonite, I see.

So, is it better to be good, or lucky? Who bloody cares.

Nice run by Bopara BTW. Unlucky, though, to break an England T20 record but lose the match. Damn unlucky.

POSTED BY
cccrider
on | January 29, 2014, 12:43 GMT

Henry Crun, What an angry little man you are!
The answer to my question - If Chris Lynn was from NSW he would be in the Australian ODI side for the last 18 months, and be touring SA.
Here's another one to make you foam: Which NSW batsman took 27 test to get his first test ton?

POSTED BY
cricketsubh
on | January 29, 2014, 12:41 GMT

i do not think aus t20 bowling attack is strong bowler like hezalwood and henries canot stop powerful hitters aus need to play bowlers not all rounders aus need to 4 bowlers not 4 all rounders i pick okeef for murehead

POSTED BY
Ross_Co
on | January 29, 2014, 12:41 GMT

Are we meant to be scared yet?

POSTED BY
Jimmyrob83
on | January 29, 2014, 12:40 GMT

Bopara getting junk time runs, what a shock. Watch him stink it up when the pressure is on.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 12:38 GMT

Aussies are top in form of cricket

POSTED BY
Iddo555
on | January 29, 2014, 12:38 GMT

@Brutal

Bopara was lucky to be playing today the way he had performed in the 5 one day games and all of a sudden you think he is the best thing since sliced bread and should be coming in high up? Root actually has a good record in 20/20. He backs himself and actually scores well and at a good rate. Bopara was lucky to get a game today, i nearly threw coffee all over myself when I saw him playing and Stokes not playing.

POSTED BY
Bernadino
on | January 29, 2014, 12:35 GMT

Bopara seems to be good at the end when all is lost. Perhaps that is why he is good at the end -- nothing really at stake if he gets out is a blaze of glory. Move him up the order and he will choke like England's other high order batsmen. Just another pathetic performance from England that looked better than it was because Australia eased up in the last few overs. If England cannot beat this makeshift Australian T20 side then they never will.

POSTED BY
Mintsweety
on | January 29, 2014, 12:32 GMT

@blade-runner: England should've won should,d they, against this below avg Aussie side? Well guess what...they didn't nor did they ever look likely to. So I guess that makes England well below avg. suddenly, there's a warm glow in my throat.

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | January 29, 2014, 12:31 GMT

Once again an expensive dropped catch by England. When you're struggling to win as it is you simply can't give the opposition chances like that. Given White's innings, that may have been the difference but, whatever the reason, just not good enough again.

POSTED BY
Silverfeather
on | January 29, 2014, 12:28 GMT

Somebody please explain to me the point of Jade Dernbach

POSTED BY
Iddo555
on | January 29, 2014, 12:27 GMT

Bopara is great when there is no chance of winning, when the game is in the balance he is like a rabbit in the headlights. He was lucky to start today and now he's got a score we'll no doubt have to suffer through 5 Bopara failures before his place is on the line again.

Something similar to this Australian team must be favourites to make the final of the World T20. Lose Bailey for starters and maybe Henriques as well. Its going to be a juggernaut when Warner comes back.

POSTED BY
DylanBrah
on | January 29, 2014, 12:18 GMT

If only the Aussies didn't rest their stars in that ODI game... they would be on their way to a 13-0 whitewash. I guess they will settle with 12-1 though!

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 12:14 GMT

@Front_foot_lunge, your right it is getting very painful to watch. You have to take your hat off to Oz and just admit they are better than us at the moment. Hard to do but you know it is true.
@modernumpiresplz, i think it is a good point. When Ravi plays in any format other than T20 he seems to bat with the fear of God in him. We are too timid at the moment in all forms of the game. Could very well be a lean few years for us.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 12:14 GMT

@Aaqib what was so GIANT about the English top order?? 4/55. Hales has been in shocking form in the big bash! one good game out of 8.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 12:06 GMT

once again bopara flourishes when england have no chance of wining!! What about doing this when batting first or when there is a realistic chance of winning

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | January 29, 2014, 12:05 GMT

The way Ravi's hitting why did he take a single off the first ball v the young leggy ? then Bresnan got 2 dots and out that was the over he really needed to target. He might have the helicopter but not the brain as Ms Dhoni would have turned that single down in same position no question. All the same remarkable hitting by him and ridiculous a nurdler like Root was sin b4 he and Butler chasing over 12 an over !

POSTED BY
Blade-Runner
on | January 29, 2014, 12:01 GMT

I really don't understand why England are struggling against this below average Aussies. Last year, Sri Lanka whitewashed Aussies in T20s , 2-0 so easily. England should have won this game. But their top order didn't perform well enough.

POSTED BY
VivGilchrist
on | January 29, 2014, 12:01 GMT

Finally the Hazelwood myth has been exposed. If he was from SA he wouldn't even be spoken about.

POSTED BY
ModernUmpiresPlz
on | January 29, 2014, 11:57 GMT

Ravi Bopara, the most benign looking bat in the ODI's bar none is the scary part of the English T20 batting lineup? I'm not sure what that says, but I'm pretty sure it says something.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 11:51 GMT

Not quite sure there's a point in running singles at this time! Boundaries or nothing if you ask me!

POSTED BY
shanosV8
on | January 29, 2014, 11:48 GMT

As an Aussie supporter, it is getting hilarious seeing the Pommie supporters clutching at straws as their hapless side lurches from one disaster to another on this record-breaking loss-making tour of OZ. Here are 2 tasty morsels posted earlier today:
Article : "Twenty20 provides England's winning chance…."
Posted by Front-Foot_lunge on (January 28, 2014, 16:31 GMT)
As an England fan, I cant help but feel that as the format gets shorter, we're more likely to win a game.
Article: England's T20 batting line up 'scary'
Posted by NixNixon on (January 28, 2014, 10:39 GMT)
I am going to make a bold prediction and say that Eng will win all the t20 games. Don't think Aus have the power to match Eng, especially in the batting department.
Really, you Pommie supporters should stay quiet and suffer in silence! And tell Broady the only 'scary' thing is his team analysis.
The T20's will be 3-0 to Aus, giving us a 12-1 winning international score this tour. Now THAT'S scary for the Poms broady.

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 11:45 GMT

@cpt.meanster, people would listen to your opinions if you were there to comment when India gets leathered. I respect the opinions of some Indian fans aka sachin_vvs and Harmony11 but you only surface on English/Pak/SL articles to put them down and demean those sides. Boring, boring

POSTED BY
Front-Foot_lunge
on | January 29, 2014, 11:44 GMT

As an English fan, this is painful to watch. Once again, we talk ourselves up with our 'scary batting' and then fail to deliver. I think this is the essence of the English teams performance this summer down-under. We can talk a really good game...thats about it. We had our brief time in the sun, but now, as they say in Game of Thrones..."Winter is coming!!!"

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 11:44 GMT

@Cpt.meanster, where are your comments on the Indian debacle in NZ mate. I have been looking and looking but not seen anything. At least I am here through thick and thin. India have been annihilated by the no 8 side in the word. We are losing against the best side in the short formats. India have less chance than even we do of retaining a world cup. A population of over a billion and not one decent seamer. A pity ...

POSTED BY
JimmyDean
on | January 29, 2014, 11:32 GMT

@mike, agreed with you completely. English team need the services of Miss C Edwards & Miss S Taylor to give Aussie side any competition.

POSTED BY
Henry_Crun
on | January 29, 2014, 11:31 GMT

@Albert Dominique Thomas -" the top teams should only play with themselves"? Judging on England's performance on this tour, they've been playing with themselves far too much already.

POSTED BY
Henry_Crun
on | January 29, 2014, 11:26 GMT

@cccrider - If Chris Lynn was from NSW he'd probably have to move interstate to someplace like Qld, like Khawaja, Forrest, Lyon, Christian, Hughes, Silk, Bird, Cooper, Cowan etc. The reason that NSW provide so many players at rep level is simply that there is a hell of a lot more of them and competition for spots is much harder than in other State.
Back to tonight's game: the best T20 innings Cam White has played. In the past he's been a liability; although he could give the ball a fair hammer he usually wasted a couple of overs settling in, not good in this form. I don't know who's been getting in his ear, but tonight's instant attack was a revelation.

POSTED BY
Cpt.Meanster
on | January 29, 2014, 11:22 GMT

@jb633: I bet your English players are worthy to play in the IPL rather than Indian players huh ? Yep, we can all see why England are so very good in T20 cricket. Please don't make me laugh.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 29, 2014, 11:20 GMT

Ian Jones; Yes a Portuguese immigrant who has lived on Australia since a 1 year old is the same as pinching a talented teenager from a struggling country such as Zimbabwe. I apologise for all previous remarks.

POSTED BY
stuartk319
on | January 29, 2014, 11:17 GMT

White "pinned" LBW? IMHO that was missing a 4th stump. What happened to accepting the umpire's call on the (admittedly close) no-ball preceding it as well? Personally, that left a very sour taste in my mouth. Great batting by Finch, White and then Lynn, all the same. Buttler and Hales looked dangerous, but looks like too many runs on the board now.

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 11:07 GMT

We need a big clearout from the whole structure of English cricket. There are many so called 'fringe' players who have been knocking around for a few years but have not shown anything in international cricket. The guys like Bairstow, Briggs, Dernbach, Tremlett, Samit, Borthwick, Kerrigan, Bresnan need to be forgotten. I know it sounds harsh but you have to ask youself are they even talented enough to play at this level. There are a few guys who are raw but possess the ability to play at the top level. Guys like Vince, Topley, Butler and even Root do have the ability and should be given a go at some point. When we get back to the English summer i hope to see a young, energetic side to take the field against SL

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 11:02 GMT

This series between top teams has truelly been quite competitive. This is why the top teams should only play with themselves. No one sided affair.

POSTED BY
C.Gull
on | January 29, 2014, 11:00 GMT

Didn't Broad call the English batting "scary"? It looks that way at 55/4...

will the Aussies stop moaning about England using non English born players now? They've someone from Portugal!!

POSTED BY
JimmyDean
on | January 29, 2014, 10:48 GMT

@Aaqib Ali Aamer, England are giants however today apu believes they will fall like giant bean stalks don't you think so Aaqib similar to the green men from your Paki team .....

ENGLAND are giants when it comes to the T20 BATTING. So any target around 200 won't be difficult to chase provided the inexperienced bowling lineup of AUSTRALIA today.

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | January 29, 2014, 10:30 GMT

I'm wondering why we discarded Tredwell who was our 2nd most economical bowler in the ODIs?
Obviously he could have gone for big runs as most of our bowlers have today but I'd have thought that his ODI stats were a fair benchmark on how he might go?
Not sure why they didn't try Root for an over and see how it goes - it's not as though our bowling was ok without him. Having said that Root should be resting by now

POSTED BY
cccrider
on | January 29, 2014, 10:06 GMT

Imagine if Chris Lynn was from NSW.

POSTED BY
cccrider
on | January 29, 2014, 10:04 GMT

Wides should be worth 2 or 3 runs in this game, 1 run just isn't enough penalty.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:55 GMT

Aaron Finch is on his way to a second 150+ score against England.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:49 GMT

ENGLAND are giants when it comes to the T20 BATTING. So any target around 200 won't be difficult to chase provided the inexperienced bowling lineup of AUSTRALIA today.

POSTED BY
aussie1993
on | January 29, 2014, 9:46 GMT

mighty aussies on the role
this team are fav going into t20 world cup

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:32 GMT

Finch gone but what fabulous hitting by White..even when he miscues a shot..it is a no ball...Englands bowling is certainly not 'scary' wonder what would have happened if warner and steve smith were also there..

POSTED BY
R_U_4_REAL_NICK
on | January 29, 2014, 9:22 GMT

104 off 10 overs... Bresnan most economical bowler so far... It's just not working for England is it!

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:21 GMT

Both openers matching each other shot for shot..and both have made half centuries as australia storm past 100 in the 10th over..should try and aim for 250...

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 9:19 GMT

Why is this Briggs in the team? He should be playing in a park somewhere.

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 9:16 GMT

How many times do we need to see Briggs to know he will never cut it at international cricket. Has anyone ever seen him move it off the straight? Get spinners that actually spin the ball. Enough of this negative garbage, picking guys who will do a job. We need wicket takers. English cricket is in a right mess.

POSTED BY
wanatawu
on | January 29, 2014, 9:15 GMT

Australia can today become the first team to score 300 in a T20 game.

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 9:13 GMT

80-0, Aus will make 250 with this attack we have out. Utter tripe yet again. Medium pace half volleys, thanks for coming Jade.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:09 GMT

Australia going great guns..the momentum is on their side..let us see whose batting line-up is 'scary'- Broad will end up eating his own words..finch and white too good for a frail english bowling lineup- spin and pace have no effect on any of them- 78-0 in 8 overs

POSTED BY
android_user
on | January 29, 2014, 9:01 GMT

Aaron Finch is on his way to a second 150+ score against England.

POSTED BY
ste13
on | January 29, 2014, 8:58 GMT

Persisting with Dernbach is beyond my imagination. He has never been international level, failed on many occasions. What's behind his selection?

POSTED BY
cccrider
on | January 29, 2014, 8:43 GMT

Dunk would be mid 20s in the 3rd over.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 8:37 GMT

should be an interesting match..let us see how the australia "shadow team" performs- they should be and could be good enough for the englishmen..as i write this white has already taken 3 runs off the first ball from broad

POSTED BY
humi_cric
on | January 29, 2014, 8:32 GMT

Jade Dernbach??????? (Ishant Sharma of England), may be because they wanted the viewers to see more runs and keep them interested in T20 cricket.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
humi_cric
on | January 29, 2014, 8:32 GMT

Jade Dernbach??????? (Ishant Sharma of England), may be because they wanted the viewers to see more runs and keep them interested in T20 cricket.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 8:37 GMT

should be an interesting match..let us see how the australia "shadow team" performs- they should be and could be good enough for the englishmen..as i write this white has already taken 3 runs off the first ball from broad

POSTED BY
cccrider
on | January 29, 2014, 8:43 GMT

Dunk would be mid 20s in the 3rd over.

POSTED BY
ste13
on | January 29, 2014, 8:58 GMT

Persisting with Dernbach is beyond my imagination. He has never been international level, failed on many occasions. What's behind his selection?

POSTED BY
android_user
on | January 29, 2014, 9:01 GMT

Aaron Finch is on his way to a second 150+ score against England.

POSTED BY
on | January 29, 2014, 9:09 GMT

Australia going great guns..the momentum is on their side..let us see whose batting line-up is 'scary'- Broad will end up eating his own words..finch and white too good for a frail english bowling lineup- spin and pace have no effect on any of them- 78-0 in 8 overs

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 9:13 GMT

80-0, Aus will make 250 with this attack we have out. Utter tripe yet again. Medium pace half volleys, thanks for coming Jade.

POSTED BY
wanatawu
on | January 29, 2014, 9:15 GMT

Australia can today become the first team to score 300 in a T20 game.

POSTED BY
jb633
on | January 29, 2014, 9:16 GMT

How many times do we need to see Briggs to know he will never cut it at international cricket. Has anyone ever seen him move it off the straight? Get spinners that actually spin the ball. Enough of this negative garbage, picking guys who will do a job. We need wicket takers. English cricket is in a right mess.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | January 29, 2014, 9:19 GMT

Why is this Briggs in the team? He should be playing in a park somewhere.